History Main / InappropriateSpeakAndSpell

* ''Series/{{Teletubbies}}'' has two such incidents involving its dolls. One Tinky Winky doll ostensibly said either "I got a gun!" or “bite my butt!” but it was actually "Again, again!". A Po doll was thought to have said a homophobic slur, but she was actually saying "fidit", which means "faster" in Cantonese, a language that Po speaks on the show.

*** He's actually saying, "Who has to go [to the bathroom]?" [[{{Mondegreen}} but it doesn't sound like it]].

* ''Series/{{Teletubbies}}'' has two such incidents involving its dolls. One Tinky Winky doll ostensibly said "I got a gun!" but it was actually "Again, again!". A Po doll was thought to have said a homophobic slur, but she was actually saying "fidit", which means "faster" in Cantonese, a language that Po speaks on the show.

-->'''Krusty's Speak & Say:''' "S is for [[ShiksaGoddess Shiksa]]! S, H, I...uh, think there's a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar T]] in there somewhere..."

* Several years ago, one could find Toys/GIJoe action figures with voice chips that said things like "Yo Joe!", "ATTAAACK!", and "Vengeance is mine!", and {{Franchise/Barbie}} [[strike:action figures]] dolls with voice chips that said things like "Let's go shopping!", "Math is hard!", and "Will we ever have enough clothes?" Inevitably, the Barbie Liberation Front went to Toys "R" Us, bought a bunch of each, and swapped the voice chips between the Joes and the Barbies. ''And then returned them all to the store.'' One may logically presume that HilarityEnsued.

*** It was a chip manufacturing defect. However, many sound books do go berserk when their battery is run down, either starting to sound demonic, or cut off the speech halfway through. The latter can cause the book to say some pretty shocking things. Oh, by the way, said Elmo book was from the same publisher as the infamous Lion King sound book. You know, the one with the defect that may cause the book to say something that sounded like "Squashed bananas up your ass" if you time your button presses right.

** And then there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6MhR1S1SlY this.]]

* Several years ago, one could find GIJoe action figures with voice chips that said things like "Yo Joe!", "ATTAAACK!", and "Vengeance is mine!", and {{Franchise/Barbie}} [[strike:action figures]] dolls with voice chips that said things like "Let's go shopping!", "Math is hard!", and "Will we ever have enough clothes?" Inevitably, the Barbie Liberation Front went to Toys "R" Us, bought a bunch of each, and swapped the voice chips between the Joes and the Barbies. ''And then returned them all to the store.'' One may logically presume that HilarityEnsued.

* On ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', Strong Bad had Bubs make [[RobotMe a crude robot version of himself]] out of an old Speak and Spell and an empty box of Grape-Nuts, according to the WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail "personal favorites". The "Grape-Nuts Robot" was shown saying "Now spell: double deuce" in an easter egg, and in an episode of Marzipan's Answering Machine Strong Bad tries (and fails) to get the robot to say "Kiss my butt".

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{MAD}}'' sketch "Rejected Film/ToyStory3 Characters", one of these characters was Speak N' Swear, a literal interpretation of this trope.

* The original TeddyRuxpin talking teddy bear used animatronics which told the story on the audio cassette put into his back. Teddy would play ''any'' tape you put into him, but his mouth and eyes would move only when you used one of his approved story tapes, and then only when he speaks.

[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:WebAnimation]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[AC:Real Life]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{MAD}}'' sketch, "Rejected Film/ToyStory3 Characters", one of these characters was Speak N' Swear, a literal interpretation of this trope.

* The Leapfrog Alphabet Pal Caterpillar has 26 feet, each with a letter of the alphabet on it, and one of its settings is to make the letter sound of the foot you press. You can use this to sound out almost any word you want... [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything except Leapfrog had swear words in mind when they designed it.]] If you want to make it sound out the word "shit" for example (or ''most'' swear words) it will decide you are tickling it halfway through and then go on to say the next sound, so it's like this:

** Referenced in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa asks her friends whether there isn't something wrong with what their talking [[BlandNameProduct Malibu Stacy]] dolls say[[note]]referring to the terribly sexist and demeaning phrases[[/note]]. One girl responds, "There's something wrong with what ''my'' Stacy says"; when she pulls the string, we hear "[[Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} My spidey sense is tingling -- anybody call for a web-slinger?]]"

** Someone decided to see what would happen if they set an Elmo on fire. The results are very, very unsettling. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYGhmJD9LKc Watch]] [[SchmuckBait at the risk of not sleeping tonight.]]
** In 2006, [[http://www.clickorlando.com/news/5784303/detail.html a talking Elmo book was somehow programmed to say "Who wants to die?"]]
*** He's actually saying "Who has to go [to the bathroom]?" [[{{Mondegreen}} but it doesn't sound like it]].

!!Examples

* Played for laughs on an episode of ''The Simpsons'':

* The original TeddyRuxpin talking teddy bear used animatronics which told the story on the audio cassette put into his back. Teddy would play ''any'' tape you put into him, but his mouth and eyes would move only when you used one of his approved story tapes, and then only when he speaks.
** A similar talking doll, Cricket, had no such limitations.
* The Leapfrog Alphabet Pal Caterpillar has 26 feet, each with a letter of the alphabet on it, and one of its settings is to make the letter sound of the foot you press. You can use this to sound out almost any word you want... [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything except Leapfrog had swear words in mind when they designed it.]] If you want to make it sound out the word "shit" for example (or ''most'' swear words) it will decide you are tickling it halfway through and then go on to say the next sound, so it's like this:
-->'''[Pressing S]:''' Sh
-->'''[Pressing H]:''' Huh
-->'''[Pressing I]:''' Ih
-->'''[Pressing T]:''' *giggle* That tickles! T.
** You can still make it say "I see you pee", "You be in pee" and "I see a titty."
* Several years ago, one could find GIJoe action figures with voice chips that said things like "Yo Joe!", "ATTAAACK!", and "Vengeance is mine!", and {{Franchise/Barbie}} [[strike:action figures]] dolls with voice chips that said things like "Let's go shopping!", "Math is hard!", and "Will we ever have enough clothes?" Inevitably, the Barbie Liberation Front went to Toys "R" Us, bought a bunch of each, and swapped the voice chips between the Joes and the Barbies. ''And then returned them all to the store.'' One may logically presume that HilarityEnsued.
** Referenced in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa asks her friends whether there isn't something wrong with what their talking [[BlandNameProduct Malibu Stacy]] dolls say[[note]]referring to the terribly sexist and demeaning phrases[[/note]]. One girl responds, "There's something wrong with what ''my'' Stacy says"; when she pulls the string, we hear "[[Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} My spidey sense is tingling -- anybody call for a web-slinger?]]"

* The [[Series/SesameStreet Tickle Me Elmo]] doll is a talking doll that shakes and giggles when you touch it in several ways. Just ripe for abuse.
** And then there's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6MhR1S1SlY this.]]
** Someone decided to see what would happen if they set an Elmo on fire. The results are very, very unsettling. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYGhmJD9LKc Watch]] [[SchmuckBait at the risk of not sleeping tonight.]]
** In 2006, [[http://www.clickorlando.com/news/5784303/detail.html a talking Elmo book was somehow programmed to say "Who wants to die?"]]
*** He's actually saying "Who has to go [to the bathroom]?" [[{{Mondegreen}} but it doesn't sound like it]].
**** It was a chip manufacturing defect. However, many sound books do go berserk when their battery is run down, either starting to sound demonic, or cut off the speech halfway through. The latter can cause the book to say some pretty shocking things. Oh, by the way, said Elmo book was from the same publisher as the infamous Lion King sound book. You know, the one with the defect that may cause the book to say something that sounded like "Squashed bananas up your ass" if you time your button presses right.
* Mike Motzart, that toy review guy from [=YouTube=], LOVES this trope and exploits it in many of his videos. Some of the exploits demonstrated have been fixed by toy manufacturers in subsequent revisions. His Leapfrog table exploit only worked on older models featuring the character "Lily" which had a compartment flap that came off very easily, said exploit involved removing the flap and toggling a switch rapidly to result in something that sounded like a ClusterFBomb. Newer models featuring the character "Dot" are unaffected as said flap is now molded in and is impossible to remove without breaking it off by force.
* [[http://www.ebaumsworld.com/audio/play/80510840/ The demonic Furby.]]

* Played for laughs on an episode of ''The Simpsons'':
-->'''Krusty's Speak & Say:''' "S is for [[ShiksaGoddess Shiksa]]! S, H, I...uh, think there's a [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar T]] in there somewhere..."
* The TropeNamer: the Texas Instruments Speak and Spell. Due to its British accent and faulty sound card, words can be heard inappropriately.

* Several years ago, one could find GIJoe action figures with voice chips that said things like "Yo Joe!", "ATTAAACK!", and "Vengeance is mine!", and {{Barbie}} [[strike:action figures]] dolls with voice chips that said things like "Let's go shopping!", "Math is hard!", and "Will we ever have enough clothes?" Inevitably, the Barbie Liberation Front went to Toys "R" Us, bought a bunch of each, and swapped the voice chips between the Joes and the Barbies. ''And then returned them all to the store.'' One may logically presume that HilarityEnsued.

* The Leapfrog Alphabet Pal Catterpillar has 26 feet, each with a letter of the alphabet on it, and one of its settings is to make the letter sound of the foot you press. You can use this to sound out almost any word you want... [[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything except Leapfrog had swear words in mind when they designed it.]] If you want to make it sound out the word "shit" for example (or ''most'' swear words) it will decide you are tickling it halfway through and then go on to say the next sound, so it's like this:

** Referenced in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa asks her friends whether there isn't something wrong with what their talking [[{{Expy}} Malibu Stacy]] dolls say[[note]]referring to the terribly sexist and demeaning phrases[[/note]]. One girl responds, "There's something wrong with what ''my'' Stacy says"; when she pulls the string, we hear "[[Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} My spidey sense is tingling -- anybody call for a web-slinger?]]"

** Someone decided to see what would happen if they set an Elmo on fire. The results are very, very unsettling. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYGhmJD9LKc Watch]] [[SchmuckBait at the risk of sleeping tonight.]]

* The TropeNamer: the Texas Instruments Speak and Spell. Due to its British accent and faulty sound card, words can be heard innapropriately.

** Referenced in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa asks her friends whether there isn't something wrong with what their talking [[{{Expy}} Malibu Stacy]] dolls say[[hottip:*:referring to the terribly sexist and demeaning phrases]]. One girl responds, "There's something wrong with what ''my'' Stacy says"; when she pulls the string, we hear "[[Franchise/{{Spider-Man}} My spidey sense is tingling -- anybody call for a web-slinger?]]"

This trope deals with the toys that can be bent to swear or say otherwise inappropriate things.

-->'''Krusty's Speak & Say:''' "S is for [[ShiksaGoddess Shiksa]]! S, H, I...uh, think there's a [[GettingCrapPastTheCensors T]] in there somewhere..."

* Several years ago, one could find GIJoe action figures with voice chips that said things like "Yo Joe!", "ATTAAACK!", and "Vengeance is mine!", and {{Barbie}} [[strike:action figures]] dolls with voice chips that said things like "Let's go shopping!", "Math is Hard!", and "Will we ever have enough clothes?" Inevitably, the Barbie Liberation Front went to Toys R Us, bought a bunch of each, and swapped the voice chips between the Joes and the Barbies. ''And then returned them all to the store.'' One may logically presume that HilarityEnsued.
** Referenced in an episode of ''TheSimpsons'': Lisa asks her friends if there isn't something wrong with what their talking [[{{Expy}} Malibu Stacy]] dolls say[[hottip:*:referring to the terribly sexist and demeaning phrases]]. One girl responds "There's something wrong with what ''my'' Stacy says"; when she pulls the string, we hear "[[SpiderMan My spidey sense is tingling -- anybody call for a web-slinger?]]"

* The Tickle Me Elmo doll is a talking doll that shakes and giggles when you touch it in several ways. Just ripe for abuse.

* [[http://www.ebaumsworld.com/audio/play/80510840/ The demonic Furby]]

* Played for laughs on an episode of ''TheSimpsons'':
-->'''Krusty's Speak & Say''': "S is for [[ShiksaGoddess Shiksa]]! S, H, I...uh, think there's a [[GettingCrapPastTheCensors T]] in there somewhere..."
* The TropeNamer: the Texas Instruments Speak and Spell. Due to its british accent and faulty sound card, words can be heard innapropriately.

-->'''Krusty's Speak & Say''': "S is for [[ShiksaGoddess Shiksa]]! S, H, I...uh, think there's a [[GettingCrapPastTheCensors T]] in there somewhere..."

** One variant I have seen is an Elmo in shackles and ball-gag. When it is activated, it appears to struggle with it's bonds and mumble behind the gag. Yes, that sounds horrible, but a muppet in bondage gear is just funny squared.
*** And then there's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6MhR1S1SlY this.]]

** Someone decided to see what would happen if they set an Elmo on fire. The results are [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel very, very unsettling.]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYGhmJD9LKc Watch]] [[SchmuckBait at the risk of sleeping tonight.]]

** You can still make it say "I see you pee", "You be in pee" and "I see a titty."

* The Tickle Me Elmo doll is a talking doll that shakes and giggles when you touch it in several ways. Just ripe for abuse.

**** It was a chip manufacturing defect. However, many sound books do go berserk when their battery is run down, either starting to sound demonic, or cut off the speech halfway through. The latter can cause the book to say some pretty shocking things. Oh, by the way, said Elmo book was from the same publisher as the infamous Lion King sound book. You know, the one with the defect that may cause the book to say something that sounded like "Squashed bananas up your ass" if you time your button presses right.
* Mike Motzart, that toy review guy from [=YouTube=], LOVES this trope and exploits it in many of his videos. Some of the exploits demonstrated have been fixed by toy manufacturers in subsequent revisions. His Leapfrog table exploit only worked on older models featuring the character "Lily" which had a compartment flap that came off very easily, said exploit involved removing the flap and toggling a switch rapidly to result in something that sounded like a ClusterFBomb. Newer models featuring the character "Dot" are unaffected as said flap is now molded in and is impossible to remove without breaking it off by force.

* At the end of his book ''Masters of {{Doom}}'', David Kushner told of how his local Chuck E. Cheese had computers that spoke, but were programmed to reject swear words. He then set it up to [[ClusterFBomb say "phuk the manager" on a loop]].

* Played for laughs on an episode of TheSimpsons: